Geeky wellbeing favourites: August 2024
Olympic fever, play, plus the usual mind–body science highlights
Every four years, I curse my younger self for being too lazy, too body conscious, too awkward to get into sports or sports-like activities. I watch athletes do amazing, seemingly impossible things with awe – especially gymnastics. I google “what sports can you get into at an older age?”, and as the years go back watch the possibilities dwindle (I think we are now down to shooting, which I have literally no interest in, and possibly golf, which I tried once when I was 14 and showed below zero aptitude in).
I wish I could go back to my younger self and tell her to maybe join a swimming club as the parents suggested (hey, it turns out that’s something I do love at an older age), maybe don’t just stand as still as possible on the tennis court and hope that the ball comes to you (although we would have missed out on that particular family joke had I actually engaged with my tennis lessons).
And before you laugh at me, I should say that obviously, I realise that the chances of becoming an Olympian were so close to zero you can’t even see them. But you can’t stop a girl from feeling inspired.
I know that as a yoga teacher, I shouldn’t be focusing on the physical aspect of the practice. But really, I credit yoga for getting me from that lazy child/adolescent to someone who actually enjoys movement and craves regular physical activity (even though I am still quite lazy). So thank you yoga, and thank you ashtanga in particular, because you tapped into my competitive personality and hooked me in.
Although I accept that I have neither the age nor the inclination (it’s too much hard work!) to become an athlete, I’m inspired, yet again, to play. Maybe put a bit more effort in my inversions – after all, I managed to do a handstand against the wall for the first time in my life at age 38, so there’s still time for more upside down goals.
Who else is inspired by the Olympics?
Workshops & more
Yoga and the immune system
Join me and Melanie Cooper for the second instalment of our yoga and the immune system workshops on Saturday September 7th. This time we’ll focus on what actually links the brain and mind with the immune system, and what this means for our yoga practice. Don’t miss out – book now! Recordings will be available for 2 weeks after if you can’t attend live (and we are flexible, so if you need more time, just tell us).
Insight timer
I have a new track on insight timer! Check it out – it’s a quicky yoga nidra inspired by this study (and please do leave a review if you enjoy). More to come soon, including (hopefully) a couple of courses.
Creative experiments with yoga nidra
Interested in exploring the creative potential of yoga nidra? I’m planning an autumn course where we’ll play with yoga nidra and writing. There’s still time to share your feedback with me – and tune in for updates soon!
Mind–body science highlights
Yoga (and dance and Tai chi) effective for adolescent depression
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of different mind–body therapies on depression among adolescents. Nine studies were deemed worthy of analysis – yoga was the most effective, followed by dance therapy and Tai chi (the other mind–body therapies were mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based Tai chi, not sure what that is). Worth noting that of the two yoga studies, one was labelled as Hatha and the other as generic yoga. The usual caveats apply here of course. I should say that my adolescent self did try yoga and didn’t really stick to it (see comment above), so I guess I am a little sceptical on how popular it would be as an intervention, but perhaps times have changed.
Which physical activity is best for menopause?
A review of systematic reviews (yes, that does sound a bit meta) concludes that there it’s impossible to answer this question with the evidence we have (including which activity is best for what symptom). It is worth noting yoga was the intervention with the most evidence, but it’s likely that the usual advice applies here – stick to what you enjoy and are most likely to do.
Breathing/pranayama for improved wellbeing
A study among healthcare professionals found that a pranayama intervention lasting 28 days led to reduced perceived stress and improved quality of life versus a control during the pandemic. Worth noting that this has a decent sample size. Sadly, the paper is behind a paywall so I can’t see what the actual intervention was, which is a shame!
Yoga to be tested for opioid use
This isn’t a study but a study announcement; however, I thought it was worth mentioning given the opioid epidemic and how much in focus it has been in the past couple of years. Will be interesting to see if yoga helps to support those experiencing opioid abuse.
Also of interest
You don’t have to be an Olympian, but movement is good, and if you were not convinced already here’s the latest Lancet report on risk factors for dementia. For those of us in midlife, physical inactivity is up there and looks like it’s a new addition for our age group. So get moving!
Apparently I’m not too old to start gymnastics according to this article on the rise of popularity for the sport among older women.
This podcast (and the accompanying written summary) on the most misused movement terms in yoga is worth a listen/read if you’re a yoga teacher.
Some blog highlights
I haven’t blogged in ages (it’s kind of confusing to have both a Substack and a blog), but if there’s a meaty topic to get into, I might write something longer there. If you have requests or suggestions, please drop me a note.
Can handstands make me happy(ier)? – Yes. Strength training is associated with mental health benefits, according to research (plus, fun, achievement etc). I should say that my handstand hasn’t progressed much since 2020, but it’s still fun.
What’s so special about yoga? – The eternal question of whether yoga is more than just Indian gymnastics (and if it is, is that so bad?).
How to form a yoga habit – If you too have Olympic fever and want to achieve some Olympics-related goal, here are some behavioural science-based tips on what to do. Report back to me next month.
Until next month!